Location indicator having an endless web and sliding name plate to cover and uncover indications on the web



July 29, 1947. G E. GRAYDON 2,424,611

LOCATION INDICATOR HAV ING AN ENDLESS WEB AND SLIDING NAME PLATE TO COVER AND UNCOVER INDICATIONS ON THE WEB Filed April 13, I945 INVENTOR.

g GgryeEf Gmyaan TTORNEWS Patented July 29, 1947 "UNIT D STATES PATENT OFFICE LOCATION INDICATOR HAVING AN ENDLEss WEB AND SLIDING NAME PLATE 110 COVER AND UNCovEn INDICATIONS N 'rIIE WEB George E. Graydon, Windsor, Ontario, Canada Application April 13, 1945, Serial No. 588,195

The present invention relates to new and. useful improvements in devices for indicating the location of a person upon leaving his office, in order that he may be readily located when desired.

Frequently, in large officesa person will leave the ofiice and his immediate whereabouts will be unknown, thus causing considerable loss of time and annoyance in locating the missing person, and it is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a changeable sign or exhibitor by means of which a person, when leaving his oihce, may be easily and quickly located.

More specifically, the invention embodies a changeable sign or exhibitor mounted in a cage provided with a window and under which an endless web may be moved, the web having printed thereon the names of various other onices, places or locations which a particular office worker may have occasion to visit from time to time and which may be selectively brought into position opposite the window as an indicator to others during his absence where the office worker may be found or located.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a name plate slidably mounted under the window for use by the ofiice worker when he is at his desk.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for moving the name plate out of registry with the window by the changeable sign or exhibitor when the latter is actuated into a desired position.

Another object is to provide a device of this character of simple and practical construction, which is neat and attractive in appearance, relatively inexpensive to manufacture and otherwise well adapted for the purposes for which the same is intended.

Other objects and advantages reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan View.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken substantially on a line 2-2 of Figure 1.

FigLue 3 is a transverse sectional View taken substantially on a line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a plan view of the name plate.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, where for the purpose of illustration I have disclosed a preferred embodiment of the invention, the numeral 5 designates a base having a relatively short 3 Claims. (Cl. fil -96) 2 upstanding wall on its upper surface and inwarclly of the marginal edges thereof.

A raised cover I has its lower edges resting on the base 5 in snug fitting engagement outwardly of tnewau to form a case within which a pair of rollers (i are journaled by means of shafts 9, the rollers having an endless web Ill arrangedto travel thereon. One end of one of the shafts 9 is provided with a manipulating knob I I to rotate one of the rollers whereby to move the web thereon.

The top of the case I is provided with a window I?! and the surface of the web Iil has printed or otherwise displayed thereon the names of various departments of an office, factory or the like, such as indicated at I3, adapted to be successively moved into registry beneath the window I2 by the manipulation of the knob or handle I I.

A name plate I4 has its side edge portions slidably mounted in channeled guides I5 at the sides of the case 5 for movement of the name plate into and out of position under the window I2, the name plate being manipuated by means of a handle I6 extendin upwardly therefrom through a slot I! in the top of the case.

A protuberance or lug I8 extends downwardly from the under side of the name plate I4 into a position for engagement by the upper surface of the web Ill, so that upon a rotation of the rollers 8 in one direction by the knob or handle I I, the movement of the web I0 will slidably actuate the name plate I4 in a direction to move the latter out of registry with the window I2 and thus expose the name I3 appearing on the surface of the web.

The name plate I4 has the name of a person printed or otherwise displayed thereon, as indicated at I9.

In the operation of the device, when an ofiice worker is occupying his desk, the name plate I4 is moved into a position in registry with the window I2, whereby the name of the person will be exposed to view therein. When such person leaves his desk and expects to be absent for an indefinite period, in another part of the office or factory, the knob or handle II is rotated in a direction to slide the name plate I4 out of registry with the window opening I2 into the position as shown in Figure 2 of the drawing and to also bring into position in registry withthe opening I2 the name of the department or other location where he may be found during his absence from his desk, and accordingly other persons in the office may then be informed where the absent person may be located.

It is believed the details of construction, manner of operation and advantages of the device will be readily understood from the foregoing without further detailed explanation.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. A changeable sign comprising a case including a base, a window in the top of the case, a traveling member in the case having indicia displayed thereon for movement into and out of registry under the window, a name plate mounted for sliding movement in the case between the window and the traveling member, and means operatively connecting the name plate to said traveling member for actuating said plate upon movement of said traveling member.

2. A changeable sign comprising a case including a base, a window in the top of the case, a traveling member in the case having indicia displayed thereon for movement into and out of registry under the window, a name plate mounted for sliding movement in the case between the window and the traveling member, and friction engaging means between the name plate and the traveling member and adapted to move the name plate out of registry with the window upon a movement of the traveling member in one direction.

3. A changeable sign comprising a case including a base, a window in the top of the case, a travelin member in the case having indicia displayed thereon for movement into and out of registry under the window, a name plate mounted for sliding movement in the case between the window and the traveling member, manually operable means for moving the name plate into and out of registry with the window, a friction engagin means between the name plate and the travelin member for actuating the former upon a movement of the latter.

GEORGE E. GRAYDON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 382,769 Pidduck May 15, 1888 389,074 Hammond Sept. 4, 1888 691,998 Wood Jan. 28, 19012 1,179,796 Bell April 18, 1916 

